Half of parents do not make their children eat a healthy diet, according to research.

Despite concerns surrounding childhood obesity, in a recent poll of 25,000 parents only 42 per cent said they tried to curb their children's fat intake, while just over half monitored the amount of sugar eaten, market researcher Mintel reported.

Maria Elustondo, a senior market analyst at Mintel, claimed parents needed help in reversing the unhealthy trend.

She said: "Parents need practical suggestions, such as how to ensure their child eats five portions of fruit and veg a day, to make leading a healthy life as easy as possible."

However, Jane Landon, the associate director of the National Heart Forum, said parents were concerned about health but confused by product advertising.

She said parents may give their children jelly sweets which boast of a high fruit content but are mostly sugar.

Meanwhile, the researchers found that only 35 per cent of children snack on fruit and girls were more focused than boys on staying healthy.

In a poll of 4,500 children, three quarters of the girls understood the importance of a balanced diet, compared to 68 per cent of boys, and a third of children admitted to frequently trying to lose weight.